KING ARTHUR
Dramatick Opera by Henry Purcell (Salzburg Festival 2004, Felsenreitschule - in German and English). A ZDF production in cooperation with ARTE.
The British composer Henry Purcell (1659-1695) and the playwright John Dryden (since 1668 something like a house author at the English court) were already in line with the trend of the time when they ventured a crossover for the first time and crossed genres in King Arthur (first performed in London in 1691): drama is paired here with opera, courtly dance rhythms with farcical shepherd's play, national myths with biting satire. The result is a dazzling work of art that tells the story of the duel between the enemy kings Arthur and Oswald for woman and power.
A (musical) spectacle full of magic and furious stage magic with Nikolaus Harnoncourt on the podium and staged quite magically by Jürgen Flimm with stars such as Barbara Bonney, Michael Schade and Michael Maertens.
Cast
Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt | Director : Jürgen Flimm | Orchestra : Concentus Musicus Wien | Duration: 180 minutes
With: Michael Maertens (King Arthur), Sylvie Rohrer (Emmeline), Michael Schade (Tenor), Barbara Bonney (Soprano)